Libraries and Museums: Career and Education Opportunities in Seattle, Washington

Libraries and Museums:
Librarians and Museum Curators manage, organize and protect the information and artifacts that define our intellectual and artistic lives. Working in our libraries and museums, they make sure that records of what we do as a people are preserved and make available to all.

Seattle, Washington photo by Dschwen

Seattle is located in King County, Washington. It has a population of over 598,541, which has grown by 6.2% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Seattle, 126, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Seattle are valued at $206,700 on average, which is well below the state average. In 2008, five hundred ninety-five new homes were built in Seattle, down from seven hundred seventy-five the previous year.

The three big industries for women in Seattle are health care, professional, scientific, and technical services, and educational services. For men, it is professional, scientific, and technical services, construction, and educational services. The average commute to work is about 25 minutes. More than 47.2% of Seattle residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 17.3%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Seattle is 7.8%, which is less than Washington's average of 8.7%.

The percentage of Seattle residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 37.3%, is less than the national average but more than the state average. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the LDS (Mormon) Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Seattle is home to the Berth 5 and the Akli Point Lighthouse as well as Lincoln Park and Myrtle Edwards Park. Shopping centers in the area include Lake City Shopping Center, Westwood Village Shopping Center and Oak Tree Village Shopping Center. Visitors to Seattle can choose from A-1 Motel, Arlington Suites and Marriott Sea-Tac Airport for temporary stays in the area.

Librarians administer libraries and perform related library services. Librarians need to make use of strategies for learning about new situations and problems as they arise. They also need to read and understand what has been read.

Library Information Technians assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Library Information Technians need to read and understand what has been read. They also need to listen well to others and take in their information and issues.

Museum Technicians prepare specimens, such as fossils, skeletal parts, and textiles, for museum collection and exhibits. Museum Technicians need to think through complex problems and develop a critical analysis of the situation and possible solutions. They also need to manage their own time and the time of others.